Neko Harbour was discovered by Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache during the early 20th century. It was named for a Scottishwhaling boat, the Neko, which operated in the area between 1911 and 1924.[1]
It was enabled and supplied by the icebreaker ARA Almirante Irízar and the ship ARA Bahía Aguirre in various Antarctic campaigns.
The refuge was destroyed by a storm in 2009, was rebuilt in 2011 during the 2011-2012 Antarctic summer campaign. Some Maintenance, repair and conservation of facilities were carried out to be used as support for scientific research. The refuge was washed away by a tidal wave in the 2010s, but the concrete base supports can still be seen.[citation needed]
Important Bird Area (IBA)
Neko Harbour has been classified as an important bird and biodiversity area by BirdLife International because it supports a breeding colony of more than 250 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins that nest on the hill near the beach to avoid risk of being washed away by the large waves frequently generated from the calving of the nearby glacier. Southern giant petrels and south polar skuas also nest here. The area has been also used by Weddell seals, which frequently haul out to rest.
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